Three Minutes With…Dave Rude of Tesla

This guy is living proof of the benefits of social media! While fronting his own band, The Dave Rude Band, he was spotted via Myspace by Frank Hannon of Tesla. The rest, as they say, is history. He became an official member of Tesla in 2006, replacing Tommy Skeoch. We caught up with Dave via phone from the band’s stop in Phoenix, the night before they hit House of Blues in Las Vegas. He passed along the best advice he was ever given, which really could be heeded by anyone, anywhere, anytime… Check it out!

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Be ready! Be ready to take advantage of it when an opportunity arises. A guy I knew back in the Bay Area told me that years ago. At the time, they had just signed this big huge deal with a big major label and you just have to be ready for it – have all your ducks in a row and have everything you need practiced, have songs, have whatever it is. So when that one lucky break happens, you can just grab it! That was really, really good advice to me. I still tell people when they ask me for advice. It’s kind of how I joined Tesla. It definitely rang really true and is a good piece of advice, and can be applied to any situation.

Speaking of that, even though I know that Wikipedia isn’t always the most accurate source of info, I saw that you got the Tesla gig via MySpace, right?

Yes, I did. It was 2006, and my solo piece The Dave Rude Band had put up a demo. Myspace had only been up for a few months, and Frank Hannon from Tesla just randomly found it. That was kind of my opportunity. He said, “Hey, you wanna come jam, in like two days from now?” “Yeah! I’ll be there!” “Cool!” And my life was kind of structured for my band to make it, its not like I had some 40-hour a week corporate job. I had my whole life structured so I could just kind of leave. About two weeks after I met Frank, I was on tour with his solo band.

Social media rocks!

Yeah, it totally does!

What is the one thing you can not live without on tour?

You know….I’ll be virtuous and say exercise equipment. Which is true. We are out on a mini-run right now and I forgot to bring it with me so I was working out with a shower towel. I do like to work out a lot. On the last tour I went and bought a tiny set of weights and an exercise mat. Sometimes you get a cool gym or if you have enough time you can go get a day pass at some local actual gym around town but most of the time I end up working out in the dressing room or in the hallway or something.

What is the best rumor you’ve heard about yourself?

You know what? Recently I’d heard from a friend of mine back home in Oakland that I’d been kicked out of Tesla for my “bad attitude”. That’s hilarious, considering that I’d just come home from a tour and me and the guys are like the best of friends. That was pretty funny! I was like “What???” But you’ve got to consider your sources out there! That was a pretty funny one but I normally don’t hear any rumors about myself, but that one definitely came to mind.

The last one I have is – have you ever had any real-life Spinal Tap moments?

I can’t really recall anything too dramatic offhand, but definitely I have been lost in arenas many times. It’s not really funny, but it’s true. That scene is so true to life, when they have the arrows going around and you still get lost. Nothing truly hilarious that I can think of offhand though.

And now you can promote whatever you want!

Well, my obvious plug is my band – DaveRudeBand.com. We’ve got videos and stuff up that’s pretty fun. Teslatheband.com too – you can check all that stuff out. We’ve got another acoustic tour in February and end up on the Monsters of Rock Cruise, at the end of February. That should be pretty fun!

Are you or do you know a musician coming through Las Vegas that wants to give the shortest interview ever with probably the shortest interviewer ever? Forward me contact info or put them in touch with me. Do you have a query for the Sack O’ Questions? Email me at ThreeMinWith@yahoo.com. (Sorry, I can not guarantee any question to be asked to anyone specific, because it’s literally the luck of the draw, but if your question gets drawn, you’ll get props – make sure you note how you want to be thanked!)

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